1
: a close-fitting cap: such as
a
: a hoodlike cap worn under a veil by nuns
b
: a protective usually metal skullcap formerly worn under a hood of mail
c
: a white cap formerly worn by English lawyers and especially by serjeants-at-law
also
: the order or rank of a serjeant-at-law
2
: coiffure
… wore her hair teased into a dramatic coif.—
Lawrence Wright
Lawrence Wright
coiffed or coifed; coiffing or coifing
1
: to cover or dress with or as if with a coif
2
[after French coiffer — more at coiffure]
: to arrange (hair) by brushing, combing, or curling
Her long blonde hair was nicely coifed.
Examples of coif in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
Then, Naomi Campbell arrived at the Louvre for the first time in her career, marking the memory with a bouffant coif and her eyes encircled with dark liner.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Julia Teti, WWD, 3 Feb. 2025
My hair was coiffed into a sleek modern bun by David Cotteblanche, the stylist behind three of my Met Gala hairdos, and a Bobbi Brown artist applied my makeup.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for coif
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Noun
The sleeves and coif had been altered, and the white scarf around her shoulders may have been added later.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
Then, Naomi Campbell arrived at the Louvre for the first time in her career, marking the memory with a bouffant coif and her eyes encircled with dark liner.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
Her hair was coiffed into a tight chignon with a sleek design to omit any fly-aways by hairstylist Dayaruci.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 3 Feb. 2025
My hair was coiffed into a sleek modern bun by David Cotteblanche, the stylist behind three of my Met Gala hairdos, and a Bobbi Brown artist applied my makeup.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for coif
Cite this Entry
“Coif.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coif. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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